Flake ice making machine



Dec. 8, 1964 A. s. KING 3,159,935

FLAKE ICE MAKING MACHINE Filed Oct. 17, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 Emma uINVENTOR.

ARTHUR Sflfllil' KING BY i/M- A T TOPNEVS A. 5. KING 3,159,986

FLAKE ICE MAKING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 8, 1964 Filed Oct. 17,1962 3 3 W 4 6 W R I 0 K H B A I T Y 2 W E J 9 7 V I. I n 7 7 m PM 7 l 6Q 3 H m a 3 w a s M a n m r I T l A 2 3 9 0 7 I 4 p W K I 3 E 5 4 NJ I n7 I. 7 6 2 2 7 I x llllllllllllllllll II 6 6 Q. a 9 u W I N, H X 1 9 9 NW mu @M O 2 vb L 5 z 8 8 Z 8 2 5 M 9. 7 8 z 2 I I 7 6 6 w u 5 I. 4 3 4 4I 6' H u I I G 4 z e 4 fl 9 1 3 x H M 8 Z HA l 8 v I 5$ 6 9 8 K A x MIll 9 4 Dec. 8, 1964 A. s. KING FLAKE ICE MAKING MACHINE 3 t w a I h s HH; q t 7 H. W h 2 H r/ 5 l r I "W v v I I H H L I I 1 M I /I| l J I V IO W I I I I 1 W I I ,u 2 H H l y I I I 7 M 1 I r 1 H C O I I I I w u BWN HAW R v F INVENTOR. A PTIIUR SHEl-[EY KING- ATTQPMEYJ United StatesPatent 3,159,986 FLARE ICE MAKHNG MACHINE Arthur Shelley King, 5336Fontana, Prairie Village, Kilns. Filed Get. 17, 1962, Ser. No. 231,069 7Claims. (ill. 62-654) This invention relates to ice making machines andmore particularly to such apparatus of small size for continuouslymaking ice in flakes or small pieces.

Flake ice making machines which continuously freeze a liquid on asurface and scrape the resultant ice therefrom are known. However, suchapparatus heretofore have been relatively large complex structuresdifficult to fabricate and have exhibited a tendency to jam due to icebuild-up on the freezing surface blocking the scraping blade.

The principal objects of the present invention are to provide arelatively simple apparatus for making flake ice wherein build-up mayoccur on the freezing surface without jamming the scraping blade; toprovide such an apparatus wherein circumferentially and radially spacedgroove-like scoring or depressions are made in a sheet of ice to causeit to break more easily and uniformly; to provide such an apparatuswherein an ice breaking or scraping blade is permitted to resilientlymove over ice stubbornly adhering to the freezing surface so as tocontinue its cycle; to provide a ratchet cam operation betwen an icebreaking blade and the freezing surface whereby the blade is allowed toperiodically lift and strike a blow against the ice to assist inbreaking same from the freezing surface; to provide such a machinewherein an ice breaker blade is supported in a position tangential to acentral shaft extending through the freezing surface for acting as aplow to urge broken ice into a receiving trough; to provide such anapparatus which automatically suspends operation of the freezing cyclein case of an excess build-up of ice on the freezing surface andautomatically re-establishes the freezing cycle when a normal conditionof iceron the freezing surface is again reached; and to provide such adevice which minimizes the possibility of mechanical failure.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and examplecertain em bodiments of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ice making apparatus embodying thisinvention and particularly illustrating the external configurationthereof.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view on a larger scale through theapparatus of FIG. 1 showing the relationship between operating parts ofthe ice forming and breaking mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view through the apparatus taken on the line33 of FIG. 2 particularly showing the freezing surface or pan and with aportion of the pan broken away showing a refrigerant passagewaytherebeneath.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view on a larger scale than that of FIG. 2showing a worm gear drive for rotatable ice contacting blades.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view on a larger scale than that ofFIG. 2 particularly illustrating cooperating ratchet cam rings forimparting a vertical reciprocatory motion to the ice contacting blades.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 66 of FIG. 2 on anenlarged scale through one type of ice contacting blade showing theshape of ice scoring teeth spaced therealong.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional View taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 2 on anenlarged scale through another type of 3,159,986 Fatented Dec. 8, 1964ice contacting blade showing a continuous ice breaking and ploughingedge thereon.

FIG. 8 is a perspective cut away view of the ice scraper blade and aperspective view of an individual ice scoring tooth particularly showingthe blade in the ice scraping operation.

Referring to the drawings in more detail:

, The reference numeral 1 generally indicates a box-like containerenclosing apparatus embodying this invention. The container 1 has sidewalls 2 and 3, end walls 4 and 5, a top Wall 6 and an intermediate Wall7 forming an upper enclosure 8. Suitable sheet insulation 9 such asfiber glass mats are adhesively secured to the walls surrounding theenclosure 8 to limit heat transfer thereinto from the outsideenvironment. The walls 2, 3, 4 and 5 extend downwardly from theintermediate wall 7 forming a lower enclosure 10 containing suitablerefrigeration compressor and condenser apparatus 11 described more fullyhereinafter. The apparatus 11 is preferably enclosed in an insulatedbox-like structure 12 having a ventilator portion 13 communicating withthe outside through a side Wall to dissipate heat generated therein.

The intermediate wall 7 has a supporting member 14 bolted thereto andextending centrally upwardly into the upper enclosure 8. The member 14includes ball hearing receiving portions 15 and 16 for supporting upperand lower ball bearings 17 and 18 on opposite sides of a worm gear 19permitting said worm gear to rotate within the supporting member 14about a verticall extending axis, FIG. 2. The supporting member 14 alsoincludes mounting structure for suitable bearings 20 and 21 which, inturn, support a shaft 22 upon which is mounted a worm 23 in mesh withthe worm gear 19. The shaft 22, in the illustrated example, extendsthrough the side wall 2 and a pulley 24 is secured thereto externally ofthe container 1, FIG. 1. A suitable electric motor 25 is mounted on theside wall 2 by means of a suitable bracket 26 and is adapted to drivethe pulley 24 by means of a belt 27. The rotation of the worm 23 drivesthe worm gear 19 for rotating a vertically extending shaft 28. Thevertically extending shaft 28 extends axially into the worm gear 19 andis fixed thereto by means of suitable keys 29 and 30.

An annular disc-like refrigerating element 31 is secured by means ofbolts 32 to the supporting member 14 and includes a body portion 33 anda plate portion 34. The plate portion 34 presents a smooth horizontallyextending ring-like upper surface 35 and forms an upwardly extending lipportion 36 at the outer periphery of the,

upper surface 35. The body portion 33 has an upwardly extending sleeve37 forming an upwardly extending wall or lip portion 38 at the innerperiphery of said upper surface 35. The upper surface 35, together withthe lip portions 36 and 38, takes the shape of a pan-like container 39for containing a shallow depth of Water thereon for a purpose describedhereinafter.

The body portion 33 has a horizontally spiralling continuous groove 40extending into the upper surface thereof. The plate portion 34 restsupon the body portion 33 supported by intermediate wall portions 41formed between the respective spirals of the grooves 40. The plateportion 34 is suitably soldered or Welded or otherwise secured to thebody portion 33 for enclosing the spirals of the groove 49 and forming acontinuous spiralling refrigerant passageway 42 extending immediatelybeneath the upper surface 35 between the inner and 'outer peripheriesthereof.

The compressor and condenser apparatus 11 includes a high pressurerefrigerant capillary tube 43 extending through the intermediate wall 7and connected to the innermost spiral 44 of the passageway 42 through anexpansion valve 44 for carrying refrigerant thereinto; The

high pressure line 43 includes a solenoid valve 45 in series therewithfor cutting off flow to the passageway 42 for reasons later described,Suitable conventional bypass members (not shown) permit the compressorand condenser apparatus 11 to continue operation in the event, of a flowblockage into the tube 43 by the solenoid valve 45. A suitable lowpressure refrigerant return tube 46 is connected between the outerspiral 47 of the passageway 42 and the compressor and condenserapparatus 11 to provide a return for refrigerant gas in the passageway42. The tube 46 and expansion valve 44 communicate with the passageway42 through respective ducts 46' and 47' extending through the bodyportion 33.

A passageway 48 extends upwardly through the body portion 33 and plateportion 34 of the refrigerating element adjacent the inner periphery lipportion 38 and opens onto the upper surface 35. A suitable water inlettube 49 communicates with the passageway 48 at the lower surface of thebody portion 33 for delivering water at a desired rate into the pan-likecontainer 39. A suitable solenoid controlled valve 50discussed'hereinafter is connected into the water inlet tube 49 tocontrol the flow of water therethrough; Water level in the pan-likecontainer 39 is maintained by a suitable float mechanism 48 mounted in atank 49"located at the same level as the container 39 on the wall 4 andcommunicating with a valve 50' through a tube 51. The tube 51 leads to avalve. 51' controlled by the float mechanism 48. The valve 51 controlsflow through the water inlet tube 49.

The shaft 28 extends coaxially upwardly through the refrigeratingelement 31 and rotates with respect thereto within the sleeve 37. Asleeve member 52 is coaxially slidably mounted on the shaft 28 andincludes a radial disc portion 52' spaced above the surface 35. Thesleeve member 52 is axially slidable with respect to the shaft 28 butrotates therewith by means of a pin 53 which extends through the shaft28 into a vertically extending slot 54 in the sleeve member52, FIG. -2.

An upwardly facing ratchet cam ring 55 surrounds the ample, by means ofnuts 61; The blades 59 and 60 extend in opposite directions andgenerally radially traverse the upper surface 35. The blades 59 and 60have downwardly extending radially spaced teeth 62 depending therefromfor scoring the ice in a manner more apparent hereinafter. A further setof blades 63 and 64 extend in opposite directions tangentially from thesleeve 37 and generally radially traverse or plough the surface 35intermediate the blades 59 and 60. The blades 63 and 64 are respectivelysupported by the radial disc portion 52', in the illustrated example,bywelding at 65. The blades 63 and 64 have adepending straight inwardlytapered lower edge 66 for contacting the upper surface'35. The outerends 63' and 64' of the respective blades 63 and 64 curve tangentiallyrearwardly in order to produce an outward wedging action againstcircumferentially spaced bars 65 to aid in breaking up the ice. asdescribed here inafter.

A helical compression spring 67 resiliently urges against the sleevemember 51 at one end' thereof and at the other end thereof against a cap68 secured by means of a bolt 69 to the shaft 28. The compression spring67 urges the sleeve member 52 resiliently downwardly with respect to the75 communicates with the opening 74 for directing pieces of icetherefrom into a storage chamber 76 preferably fixed against one of thecontainer, end walls. The storage chamber 76 and the upper enclosure 8each have suitable hinged doors 77 and 78 respectively to obtain easyaccess thereinto.

A ring member 79 is secured to and extends radially outwardly from thedisc portion 52' and revolves therewith. A suitable push-button operatedswitch 89 is secured to the outer wall of the trough71 and has anactuating arm 81 adapted to contact the ring member 79 for actuating theswitch Si? in the even-t that the disc portion 52' is raised apredetermined amount above its normal position. The normal position ofthe disc portion 52'pis obtained when the blades 59 and 60 are closelyspaced to V the upper surface 35 of the refrigerant element 31. It isshaft 28 for maintaining a downward forceon the blades noted that thelower edge 66 of the blades 63 and 64 is slightlyabove the lowerterminus of the teeth 62. A suitable source of electricity powers thesolenoidoperated switches 45 and 50' when called for by the switch 80.

A secondary trough 82 is located immediately beneath the trough 71 andcommunicates therewith trough drainage openings 83. The trough 82 isadapted to collect. any water overflow from the pan-like container 39and/or water melted from ice in the trough 72 for directing same througha suitable drain tube 84 to a place of disposal.

In operation, refrigerant is expanded or urged through the passageway 42for rapidly cooling the upper surface 35. Water is continuallydischarged through the inlet tube 49 onto the upper surface 35 where itfreezes quickly. The electric motor 25 rotates the Worm 23 which,through the worm gear 19, causes a rotation of the shaft 28. The shaft28 in turn rotates the sleeve member 52 through contact with the pin 53for rotating the blades 59, 60, 63 and 64 over the uppersurface 35 inthe direction indicated by thearrow85, The rotation of the sleeve member52 with respect to the refrigerating element 31 causes a relative rotarymotion between the ratchet cam rings 55 and 57 which causes the blades59, 60, 63 and' 64 to be periodically lifted and dropped as theyprogress circumferentially over the surface 35' for breaking, scrapingand plowing ice formed on the surface. The blades 59 and 69,. due to theteeth 62, induce radially and circumferentially spaced scoring marks 85in the sheet of ice 86 being continually formed on the surface 35. Theblades 63 and 64, however, having the continuous ice contacting loweredge 66, when striking the ice, produce a generally radially extendingbreak line thereacross which cooperates with the scoring marks 65 tocause the sheet of ice '86 to shatter into the flakes or pieces 72. Thepieces 72 are subsequently scraped and urged outwardly by both sets ofblades but particularly the somewhat canted .or tangential ploughingblades 63 and 64. The curved ends-63' and 64' wedge the pieces 72between the bars 65' to insure a desired maximum size and the pieces 72then fall into the trough 71 whereupon the paddle 73 urges same into thechute 75. e

In case of an ice build-up, the blades 59, 60, 63 and 64, instead ofjamming, ride over the hard surface of the ice, causing the radial discportion 52 and, therefore, the ring member 79, to raise whereupon theswitch 80 is actuated for energizing the solenoid valves 45 and 50 toprevent further refrigerant from entering the passageway 4-2 and waterflow onto the surface 35. The blades continue to rotate until the icesoftens and the surface 35 is again swept clean which permits the radialdisc portion 52 to again drop and initiate the freezing cycle.

It is to be understood that although one form of this invention has beenillustrated and described, it is not to be limited to the specificarrangement of parts herein described and shown except insofar as suchlimitations are included in the claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for making flake ice comprising:

(a) an insulated container having a fixed central supporting membertherein,

(b) an annular disc-like refrigerating element secured to saidsupporting member and presenting a smooth horizontally extending uppersurface having an inner and an outer periphery, said element forming anupwardly extending lip portion at said inner and outer P p y,

(0) means forming a horizontally spiralling refrigerant passageway insaid element and extending between said inner and outer peripherybeneath said upper surface, I

(a') inlet and outlet tubes communicating with said passagewayrespectively at said inner and outer periphery for deliveringrefrigerant to and removing refrigerant from said passageway forreducing the temperature of said surface, a source of refrigerantconnected to said inlet and outlet tubes,

(e) means communicating with said surface at said inner periphery fordelivering water thereto to be frozen into ice thereon,

(f) a central shaft supported in said container, said shaft extendingcoaxially upwardly through said element and being rotatably mounted withrespect thereto,

(g) a sleeve member on said shaft spaced above said surface, said sleevemember being axially slidable with respect to said shaft and rotatabletherewith,

(h) an upwardly facing ratchet cam ring surrounding said shaft and fixedwith respect to said supporting member,

(i) a downwardly facing ratchet cam ring fixed with respect to saidsleeve member and engaging said first-named ratchet ring,

(j) a generally radially extending depending ice breaking bladesupported by said sleeve member and generally radially traversing saidsurface,

(k) means for resiliently urging said sleeve member downwardly withrespect to said shaft, and

(1) driving means for rotating said shaft whereby said blade isperiodically lifted and dropped as it progresses circumferentially oversaid surface for breaking and scraping ice formed on said surface.

2. Apparatus for making flake ice comprising,

(a) a support member,

(b) an annular disc-like refrigerating element secured to said supportmember and having a refrigerated horizontal upper freezing surface withan inner and outer periphery, said element forming an upwardly extendinglip portion at said inner and outer periphy,

(c) means communicating with said upper freezing surface for deliveringwater thereto to be frozen into ice thereon,

(d) a central shaft extending coaxially upwardly of said element androtatably mounted relative thereto,

(e) a sleeve member mounted on said shaft above said freezing surface,said sleeve member being rotatable with said shaft and axially slidablethereon,

(1) an upwardly facing cam ring having a plurality of lobes spacedaround said shaft and fixed with respect to said support member,

(g) means on said sleeve engaging said cam ring lobes in response torotation of said shaft for effecting upward movement of said sleeverelative to said freezing surface, (h) means biasing said sleevedownwardly on said shaft,

(i) a blade carrier fixed to said sleeve and extendingoutwardlytherefrom in upwardly spaced relation to said freezing surface,

(j) blades fixed to said blade carrier and depending therefrom tosubstantially penetnate water frozen on said freezing surface when thesleeve is in its lowermost position,

(k) means extending outwardly generally tangentially of said sleeve withan outer end portion adjacent the lip portion at the outer periphery ofthe freezing surface and in trailing relation to an inner portionthereof to scrape ice and urge same outwardly toward theouter peripheryof the freezing surface for discharge therefrom,

(Z) and driving means for rotating said shaft and blades whereby thesleeve and blade carrier are periodically lifted and dropped and theblades impart impacts on said ice to break same.

3. Apparatus for'making flake ice as set forth in claim 2 wherein themeans for delivering water to the freezing surface includes a flowcontrol means responsive to water level on said freezing surface forstopping the delivery of water thereto when the water on said freezingsurface reaches a predetermined level;

4. Apparatus for making flake ice as set forth in claim 2 including,

surface cooperating with said spaced bars to breaklarge pieces wedgedtherebetween whereby the broken ice will pass between said bars.

5. Apparatus for making flake ice comprising,

(a) a support member,

(b) an annular disc'like refrigerating element secured to said supportmember and having a refrigerated horizontal upper freezing surface withan inner and outer periphery, said element forming an upwardly extendinglip portion at said inner and outer periph- (0) flow meansconnnunicating with said upper freezing surface adjacent said innerperiphery for delivering water thereto to be frozen into ice thereon,

(d) control means in said flow means and responsive to water level onsaid freezing surface to stop the delivery of water thereto when thewater reaches a predetermined level,

(2) a central shaft extending coaxially upwardly of said element androtatably mounted relative thereto,

g (f) a sleeve member mounted on said shaft above said freezing surface,said sleeve member being rotatable with said shaft and axially slidablethereon,

(g) an upwardly facing cam ring having a plurality of lobes spacedaround said shaft and fixed with respect to said support member,

(h) means on said sleeve engaging said cam ring lobes in response torotation of said shaft for elfecting upward movement of said sleeverelative to said freezing surface,

(i )hmfrzans biasing said sleeve downwardly on said (j) a blade carrierfixed to said sleeve and extending outwardly therefrom in upwardlyspaced relation to said freezing surface,

(k) a plurality of blade teeth fixed to said blade carrier and dependingtherefrom to substantially penetrate water frozen on said freezingsurface when the sleeve is in its lowermost position, said blade teethbeing in a row generally radially of said sleeve whereby when the shaftis rotated the teeth will describe concentric circles,

(l) a blade member fixed to and depending from said 7. a V t bladecarrier in circumferential spaced relation to said blade teeth andhaving a lower edge, said blade member extending outwardly substantiallytangentially of said sleeve with an outer end adjacent the lip portionat the outer periphery of the freezing surface and in trailing relationto an inner portion thereof, v

(m) and driving means for rotating said shaftand blades whereby iceformed on said freezing surface is scored and scraped and the sleeve andblade carrier are periodically lifted and dropped to impart impacts onsaid ice to break same and the trailing relation of the outer end of theblade member urging the broken ice outwardly, toward the outer peripheryof the freezing surface for discharge therefrom.

Apparatus for making flake ice as setforth in claim 5 including,

(a) a plurality of circumferentially spaced upstanding bars adjacent toand outwardly of the lip portion at the outer periphery of the freezingsurface,

(b) a broken ice receiving member adapted to receive pieces of icepassing between said bars,

(c) the trailing outer end portion of said blade member cooperating withsaid bars to break large ice pieces wedged therebetween whereby said icepieces are broken and pass through the space between said bars.

7. Apparatus for making flake ice as set forth in claim 6 wherein,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Wagner-i. Feb. 13, 1917 Hamey May 3, 1927 Birdseye Jan. 14, 1941 Short Feb. 9,1943 MacLeod Jan. 13, 1959 Michener June 6, 1961

2. APPARATUS FOR MAKING FLAKE ICE COMPRISING, (A) A SUPPORT MEMBER, (B)AN ANNULAR DISC-LIKE REFRIGERATING ELEMENT SECURED TO SAID SUPPORTMEMBER AND HAVING A REFRIGERATED HORIZONTAL UPPER FREEZING SURFACE WITHAN INNER AND OUTER PERIPHERY, SAID ELEMENT FORMING AN UPWARDLY EXTENDINGLIP PORTION AT SAID INNER AND OUTER PERIPHERY, (C) MEANS COMMUNICATINGWITH SAID UPPER FREEZING SURFACE FOR DELIVERING WATER THERETO TO BEFROZEN INTO ICE THEREON, (D) A CENTRAL SHAFT EXTENDING COAXIALLYUPWARDLY OF SAID ELEMENT AND ROTATABLY MOUNTED RELATIVE THERETO, (E) ASLEEVE MEMBER MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT ABOVE SAID FREEZING SURFACE, SAIDSLEEVE MEMBER BEING ROTATABLE WITH SAID SHAFT AND AXIALLY SLIDABLETHEREON, (F) AN UPWARDLY FACING CAM RING HAVING A PLURALITY OF LOBESSPACED AROUND SAID SHAFT AND FIXED WITH RESPECT TO SAID SUPPORT MEMBER,(G) MEANS ON SAID SLEEVE ENGAGING SAID CAM RING LOBES IN RESPONSE TOROTATION OF SAID SHAFT FOR EFFECTING UPWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID SLEEVERELATIVE TO SAID FREEZING SURFACE, (H) MEANS BIASING SAID SLEEVEDOWNWARDLY ON SAID SHAFT, (I) A BLADE CARRIER FIXED TO SAID SLEEVEEXTENDING OUTWARDLY THEREFROM IN UPWARDLY SPACED RELATION TO SAIDFREEZING SURFACE,